Apparatus for producing pile or nap fabrics.



No. 702,854. Patented lune 17, I902. J. EATON.

APPARATUS FOR PROBUGlNG PiLE OR NAP FABRICS.

(Application filed Jan. 11, 1902.)

(No Model.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EATON, OF STOOKPORT, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF FOUR-FIFTHS TO ROBERT JOHN CHADYVIOK MITCHELL, OF WATERFOOT, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PILE OR NAP FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,854, dated June 17, 1902.

Application filed January 11, 1902. Serial No. 89,287. (No model.)

To CLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EATON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Stepping Hill, Stockport, in the county of Chester, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Production of File or Nap Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the production of a velvet piled or napped fabric without weaving, and is more particularly applicable to felted fabrics made of fine fur throughout, or fine fur and fine wool mixed, or fine wool coated with fur combined and felted togetherthat is, felted fabrics of fine close grain or texture in the form of felt hats-or the like.

According to my invention I take a felted hat-body or a felt hat in the block shape or other similar unwoven article made of felt and by the means hereinafter described I raise a pile on the surface of the felt to the required depth.

The manner in which my said invention is to be performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the application of my invention to raising pile or nap upon a felted hat-body in the blocked state, and Fig. 8 is an illustration of the same applied to a felted hat-bod y in the unblocked state.

Referring to the drawings, the construction shown in Fig. l embodies my invention for the production of a pile or napped surface on felt hat bodies which have been blocked and in which the block is indicated by the letter 7%, upon which the hat-body may be held by any suitable means, such as the ring Z, Fig. 8. Pressing against the surface of the fabric on the block are two rollers d and cl, held in such position by screws or springs or other suitable means, by means of which the fabric is prevented from becoming distorted or displaced while being operated upon by the napping device or raising-roller e. This raising-roller is carried by an adjustable screw f, by means of which the raising-roller can be accurately adjusted, so as to make the pile of any required depth. A brush-roller g, which is continuously acting against the card orother teeth of the raising-roller e, keeps the same free from loose fiber. The raising apparatus is caused to follow the shape or contour of the block by means of the grooves m, which are arranged parallel thereto and fitted to the machine at the back of the block, so that as the raising apparatus is caused to pass along the said grooves the rollers dand d are pressed against the surface of the felt bodyj to prevent distortion or dragging thereof, and the cardcovered raising-roller e being accurately adjusted to the surface by the screwfa rapid rotary motion is given thereto and a slower revolving movement to the cone as the raising-roller is caused to pass over the curved surface. 1

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the apparatus is designed to be operated upon hatbodies in the unblocked state and is similar to that last above described, with the exception that a cone 7c is substituted for the block 70 and the form of the grooves m is of course altered to coincide with that of the cone 7c. A ring Z, tightly fitting the base portion of the cone, keeps the body firm on the cone While being operated upon.

In these two cases, where it is necessary for the raising apparatus to be movable, so as to follow the contour of the cone or block, the raising-roller e and the brush-roller 9 must be driven by toothed gearing 0, actuated by a suitable universal driving, connection such, for example, as that employed for driving horse-clippers, dentists drills, and the like-and a flexible tube 19, connected to a revolving fan, must be attached to the apparatus for the purpose of keeping the working parts free from loose fiber.

I wish it to be understood that although I have shown and described certain apparatus which I have designed especially for the purpose of raising the pile on the surface of the felted fabric it is obvious that it may be raised by other similar or suitable means.

I claim as my invention 1. Apparatus for raising a pile on felted hat-bodies, consisting of a hat-form to the surface of which the hat-body is applied, a raising-roller secured near the surface of the hat-body and grooved guiding means for the raising-roller conforming to the contour of the hat-body, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for raising a pile on felted hat-bodies consisting of a hat-form to the surface of which the hat-body is applied, a raising-roller secured near the surface of the body, two rollers, one on each side of the raising-roller, each arranged to bear on the fabric on the form near the raising-roller to prevent displacement of the fabric thereon by the raising-roller, and grooved guiding means for the latter to conform to the contour of the hat body and form, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for raising a pile on felted hat-bodies consisting of a hat-form to the surface of which the hat-body is applied, a 

